Growing A Skilled And Diverse Wind Energy Workforce

The Allan Labor Government is making sure Victoria has the workforce it needs to build the state’s renewable energy future, which will deliver lower power bills for all Victorians.

Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio today opened tenders for a delivery partner for Victoria’s Wind Worker Training Centre – backed by $4.9 million investment that will make sure Victoria has a strong pipeline of skilled workers in renewable energy for the future.

The centre will deliver training for the onshore and offshore wind sectors and the provider must work closely with industry and unions to make sure the training responds directly to the skills needed on the job.

The training will be inclusive of all skill and career levels, making sure there is opportunity for existing workers to retrain and upskill, including Gippsland coal station workers that want to transition to our nation-leading offshore wind industry.

As well as specialist energy roles, the onshore and offshore wind sectors will provide job opportunities in other fields that support the delivery of projects such as accounting, information technology and community engagement.

Victoria’s energy workforce is projected to grow to over 67,000 workers in 2040, more than doubling the current size of the industry – with a peak of 4,269 workers in onshore wind and 2,370 in offshore wind during construction.

This investment in wind energy training is essential to building up the skilled workforce needed to support the planning, construction, and operations of new renewable energy projects and meet Victoria’s ambitious renewable energy targets.

Victoria is on track to deliver its renewable energy generation target of 95 percent by 2035 – onshore and offshore wind are a key part of this.

Last week the Government released Offshore Wind Energy Implementation Statement 4, which updated the community on the Victoria’s progress to deliver the legislated targets of 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2032, 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040.

Applications for the Wind Worker Training Centre tender is now open and will close 5pm Wednesday, 16 July.

For more information on how to apply, visit energy.vic.gov.au/grants/wind-worker-training-centre-grant(opens in a new window).

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio

“Because of renewable energy, Victoria has the lowest energy prices in the market and building more will make sure we can continue to drive them down – whilst creating thousands of lifelong jobs for Victorians”

“This wind worker training centre will help future proof our energy workforce, so that Victorian workers can continue to access the training they need to deliver cheaper, cleaner renewable energy for Victoria.”